University of Missouri
UC-Irvine
Mizzou Volleyball Season Ends After First-Round Loss
12/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 5, 2003
LOS ANGELES, Calif.-- - The start of the postseason turned out to be a lot like the end of the regular season for the Mizzou volleyball team, as it went to another five-game match, its sixth five-gamer in the last nine matches. This time UC-Irvine took the 15-12 win in game five to hand Missouri a 3-2 (30-27, 31-33, 25-30, 30-28, 15-12), ending the Tigers' season.
After the youthful Tigers shook off some early nerves, displayed in a 27-30 loss in the opening game, Mizzou was able to gain momentum in game two. Down 26-28 in the second game, MU put together a 3-0 run to hold game point at 29-28. However, UCI avoided the game point. The Tigers held game point three more times in the game before finally putting away the Anteaters to even the match at one game a piece.
Mizzou held the lead for much of game three, but trailed 20-21 before scoring six straight points to build a five-point lead. The Tigers maintained that lead on their way to taking the lead in the match with the 30-25 win.
UC-Irvine recovered from games two and three and retook the momentum in game four as it evened the match sending it to a fifth game. The Anteaters then closed out the match and ended Mizzou's season with the 15-12 win in game five.
Jessica Vander Kooi had a career-high 23 kills and added 18 digs for her 11th double-double of the season. Shen Danru also had a double-double, the 17th of the year for her, with 19 kills and 22 digs.
Lindsey Hunter went over 1,400 assists for the year in a double-double performance of 62 assists and 13 digs.
Senior Juliana Godoi, in what would be the final game of her career at Mizzou, finished with 12 digs.
The Tigers finish the season with a 19-11 record.
